Health,Fitness There’s no doubt that regular exercise is good for the mind and body. But a regular gym goer has a host of male organ problems that they’re more susceptible to than those sitting on the couch. Between less than sanitary conditions, communal bathrooms and lots of sweat, your typical gym is ripe with bacteria that can leave your manhood vulnerable to discomfort. But with a little knowledge, many of the most common male problems found at the gym are easily diagnosable and treatable. Here are the three most common male organ problems found at the gym and how you can solve them: 1) Yeast Infection - Most commonly thought of as a female health problem, men can also find themselves with a yeast infection, especially if they’re frequenting the gym. This type of infection is caused by a fungus called candida. While candida is usually present on the body and perfectly healthy, an overgrowth of it can be the cause of a male yeast infection.

Symptoms of a male yeast infection typically includes itching and a burning sensation accompanied by a red rash or white, shiny patches on the member. In some cases, a thick white substance may be present. Candida thrives in dark, warm and moist conditions, making it essential to change out of sweaty gym clothes as soon as your exercise is over. Spending the day in used gym clothes can make one very susceptive to this common problem. Curing a male yeast infection will require an over the counter antifungal crème. 2) "Jock Itch" - Tinea cruris, the fungus behind "jock itch," is another common ailment for the regular exerciser. Like candida, tinea cruris flourishes in dark, warm and moist areas, making the inner thighs especially vulnerable after a vigorous workout. Because tinea cruris is a form of ringworm, it has a distinct mark, making it easy to identify and diagnose. A man dealing with "jock itch" will suffer from a red, scaly, circular rash with raised edges that often itches and burns. Like yeast infections, "jock itch" can be easily avoided by swapping soiled gym clothes with fresh, clean options after a workout. It’s also essential not to share damp towels or be in close contact with others that may be experiencing tinea cruris. Over the counter antifungal crèmes will clear up this very common infection. 3) Chafing - In and out of the gym, male organ chafing is a common problem that affects many men. However, gym conditions can make active men particular vulnerable to this uncomfortable condition. Damp skin is more likely to cause friction, making excessive sweat a top culprit for a chafed member. Unlike yeast infections or jock itch, male organ chafing is marked by red, flakey skin and, while uncomfortable, won’t cause the acute itching and burning common with infections. To combat chafing, opt for looser, breathable clothing. Synthetic materials tend to be best as cotton can trap moisture. In the case of chafing, a delicate moisturizer can also be applied to relieve uncomfortable symptoms.

A cool compress with a clean, dampened towel can also quickly relieve irritation caused by chafing. Relieving symptoms While waiting for an antifungal crème to work, those afflicted with a yeast infection or jock itch can quickly relieve their symptoms. Delicately wash the infected area with warm water and a mild soap. If the infection is particularly severe, just water will work as soap may irritate the area even more. After washing, gently pat the area dry and apply a high-quality male organ health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) designed to soothe and protect the sensitive private area. While male organ problems at the gym are common, they don’t have to get in the way of an active lifestyle. Visit www.menshealthfirst.com for more information about treating common male organ health problems, including soreness, redness and loss of male organ sensation. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous online web sites.

One of the current strategies for working with children classified as ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder into give them more physical activity. The research shows that kids with ADD have smaller frontal lobes of the brain and thus they tend to struggle with focus and lean toward being more impulsive. Many of these children outgrow their behaviors as they continue to grow and their brain develops and matures. We also know that aerobic exercise releases chemicals that help in the development of those frontal lobes. A short bout of exercise can alter the chemical balance of the brain and can change a sour disposition to more genial or help us to be more focused. We've known this for years, hence the invention of the study break, the walk to the water cooler or the advent of corporate fitness centers into office buildings. Today the science backs up what we knew. But let me return to the point: Repeatedly applying this concept of exercise to enhance focus can lead to permanently enhancing the efficiency of, not only the frontal lobes, but our body as a whole. Our frontal lobes do not fully develop until about age 25. That means up until then we tend naturally to be more impulsive, sometimes irrational, sometimes foggy or unfocused and sometimes inattentive. (Insurance companies knew this before the research by tracking of data about who has auto accidents and when and why accidents occur. There was a sharp decrease after age 25, coincidentally the age at which experts believe the frontal lobes mature, and thus they became less of a risk).

Science is also showing us that academics are directly affected by sports and physical activity even more than we thought. Going back to the ancient Greek's philosophy of a sound mind in a sound body; we seem to have always assumed that the 2 go hand in hand. But now by research we know that it is true. Study by the California Department of Education in 2001 compared standardized testing scores of physically active kids and inactive kids. The physical children had far out-performed their inactive counterparts by a large margin. This study was duplicated in Australia and Hong Kong and both with identical results. The verdict was in: being in sports and physical activity not only increased the rate and efficiency of brain development but it improved learning and retention over all. A study conducted by Ralph Barrett (Nashville) indicated that repetition and development of specific motor skills such as balancing, catching and activities that require a child to use quick eye-hand coordination skills will integrate sections of the brain and enhance reading skills. We know then that applied skill learning and physical skills not only create a more efficient physical body but will lead to better comprehension in reading and thus improve grades and retention of information. Looking into our collective personal experiences we can confirm a North Carolina study that correlates grade point and graduation rates higher for the athletes in school over the non-athletes. Further research in psychology, education and neuroscience all point to the similar conclusions: Physical activity does enhance academic performance.

I have spoken on many occasions about the benefits of gymnastics for children and though many sports involve coordination, eye-hand skills, balance, strength and flexibility; no sport offers them to the extent that gymnastics does. Gymnastics forms a foundation for other sports and activities to build upon. I cannot tell you how many of my former gymnasts have gone on to excel in soccer, softball, track, diving, or other sports. And not only that, in the last 30 years I have coached 3 doctors, 2 physical therapists, 2lawyers, 6 teachers, 2 physician's assistants, 2 software engineers, 8 business owners, 2 architects, 3university professors, a police detective, many accountants, numerous nurses, many lab scientists and 1engineer whose invention was included on the space shuttle (a zero gravity fire extinguisher). Of course when I had them they were all just gymnasts. And, what's more, there are more success stories in the making. Research and personal experience concur that there is a defined connection between physical activity and academic performance. We see it from the improved status of ADD kids getting fit to the performance and graduation rates of school children and all the way to the high achievements of gymnasts. As a coach and parent, I encourage you to get your kids active on a consistent basis. You will improve their mind, their body and their chances for success.

The sport of gymnastics not only requires physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance, and grace, it also requires a high level of passion for the sport. Throughout Olympic history there have been several women who have stood out above the rest, mastering artistic gymnastics in events like the uneven parallel bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault. Their competitive spirit and athletic achievements have gained them a place in the record books as the best gymnasts in the world.

Olga Valentinovna Korbut is a Soviet-born gymnast who won a total of four gold medals and two silver medals while representing the USSR team during the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. Known for her talented acrobatics and open displays of emotion during her routines, she became one of the first gymnasts to ever do a backward somersault on the balance beam in competition. Olga also performed a skill known as the Korbut Flip on the uneven bars where from a stand on the high bar, the gymnast performs a back flip and regrasps the bar. Korbut amazed audiences with this routine at the 1972 Summer Olympics, the first time it was performed on the uneven bars in international competition.

Her 1972 Olympic debut was so memorable that it caused many young girls to join their local gymnastic clubs and take up the sport. Her focus on acrobatics rather than on elegance also reversed the trend of the way athletes performed their routines. In 1988 Korbut was the first gymnast to be inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Nadia Elena Comaneci is one of the best known gymnasts in the world. She received three gold medals at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, as a member of the Romanian team. In 1970 she became the youngest gymnast ever to win the Romanian Nationals. She won her first all-around title in 1971 when she participated in her first international competition that also won her team the gold. At the age of 11 she won the all-around gold at the Junior Friendship Tournament in 1973. By age 13 she won the all-around gold medal on every event except the floor exercise at the 1975 European Championships in Skien, Norway. Her success was recognized by the international community and was named the United Press International's "Female Athlete of the Year" for 1975.

It was at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal where 14-year-old Comaneci became a shining star. Her routine on the uneven bars was scored a perfect 10.0, the first time in modern Olympic gymnastics history that the score had ever been awarded. By the end of the Olympics, Nadia had earned six more perfect ten scores capturing the all-around, beam, and bars titles and a bronze medal on the floor exercise. In addition to being inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Nadia also received the Olympic Order, the highest award given by the International Olympic Committee. She received the award in 1984 and 2004 making her the only person (and the youngest) to receive this honor twice.

Inspired by watching Nadia Comaneci on television, Mary Lou Retton took up gymnastics in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia. She then moved to Houston, Texas to train under Romanian coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi, Nadia's former coaches. Retton won the American Cup in 1983 and the American Classic in 1983 and 1984. She also won Japan's Chunichi Cup in 1983. Gymnastics at the time was completely dominated by Eastern European gymnasts. Mary Lou Retton was the first gymnast outside Eastern Europe to win the Olympic all-around title during the 1984 Summer Olympics. She also won two silver and two bronze medals. Her performance during the Games earned her Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportswoman of the Year. Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.

Indoor gyms are community hotspots for families interested in partaking in some sort of physical activity, whether it be weightlifting, gymnastics, swimming or running. Most community parks often operate an indoor gym of some sort with one or more of these activities for parents and children to join in. Some community gyms often lack one or many of these facilities due to budget concerns, space restrictions or insufficient equipment. If you have the additional room in your city's budget to perform some aesthetic upgrades or even buy new equipment, here are some of the best items to spend that cash on.

Floor

Your basketball court is big enough with sufficient seats, but once visitors look at the floor, they are welcomed with a grave sight.

Most guests may observe the dire condition the wood floors are in, and while most indoor gyms probably have the same wooden floors since the day they opened, it might be a good concept to repaint the floors. Getting a decent contractor to come and repaint the floors will cost a few thousand dollars, but the upgrade is worth the cost. Contractors will take off the old paint from the floor, re-sand the wood and paint the floors with a new color or its original color. Your newly finished floors will go with any wood or aluminum bleachers you may have scattered throughout a gym.

Exercise Equipment

You may have plenty of space inside your gym to erect a little exercise room to house cardio machines and a couple of weightlifting machines. Exercise equipment, as with the floors, will set you back a few thousand dollars, but these machines can be purchased at steep discounts from nearby equipment resellers wanting to help community parks and gyms. With the purchased equipment, your city's local gym can start conducting exercise classes and free work-out sessions for residents interested.

Pool

Some indoor pool may still be utilizing older pool plaster for the floor and sides, and while this is okay, the plaster will chip after a few years. For swimmers, cracked plaster will produce minor cuts on their feet, and minor cuts inside a chlorine-filled pool says "ouch" for swimmers. Of course emptying the pool and having it repainted will set you back a few thousand dollars, but it's worth the investment of getting the floors and sides retouched. Repainted sides and floors will prevent swimmers from getting cuts on their toes and feet, rendering a more enjoyable swim. Other likely pool renovations may include the purchasing of lifesaver rings, life vests and grandstands for spectators to enjoy water polo games or swimming events held inside a gym.